With its platform strategy, Microsoft is focusing on integration rather than isolated solutions - from Microsoft 365 to Azure to Copilot. This offers companies enormous opportunities in terms of productivity, security, and AI usage, but also entails risks such as vendor lock-in, cost increases, and governance challenges. Those who set clear guidelines early on can reap the benefits while avoiding dependencies.
Back in 2014, Satya Nadella emphasized: “We are and will remain a platform provider.” Back then, with Windows 10 and Azure as the foundation. (Only available in german). Eleven years later, it is clear how consistently Microsoft has restructured the company in this direction.
With Microsoft 365, Azure, GitHub Copilot, Fabric, and the deep integration of AI into Office tools, the company is pursuing a clear platform strategy. The products are firmly anchored in everyday business life, securing recurring revenues and increasing sales and cash flow through synergy effects.
This opens up great potential for companies, but also carries risks. CIOs and CFOs are thus faced with a key question:
How can we leverage Microsoft's strength as a platform without becoming dependent on it?
Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and Power Platform are becoming increasingly integrated. Microsoft is pursuing the principle of “integration instead of isolated solutions.” For companies, this means fewer media breaks, more consistent processes, and greater efficiency.
With Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot, AI is becoming an integral part of everyday work. According to a Forrester study commissioned by Microsoft for small and medium-sized businesses, ROI improves from 132 % up to 353 % over three years.
Azure and Microsoft Fabric provide the basis for immediately implementing data analytics and AI scenarios in companies. Microsoft is positioning itself here as a “picks and shovels” provider - in other words, as the infrastructure for the AI economy. However, this requires clear data models, defined responsibilities, and data skills.
Centralized identity and compliance management reduces fragmentation. Companies benefit from a consistent security model instead of a multitude of individual solutions.
Caution: Conversely, misconfigurations or authorization errors have an immediate impact across the entire group and promote a single point of failure.
The closer the integration, the harder it is to switch. If you invest a lot in Copilot logic and Fabric data models, you're tied to Microsoft's roadmap for the long haul.
Microsoft regularly increases license prices. Copilot adds additional surcharges that CFOs must factor into their cost planning.
Shadow IT, uncontrolled AI use, and increasing data volumes increase the risks. Without clear guidelines, control can quickly be lost.
An example: Automatically generated content without authorization that ends up in critical processes unnoticed.
EU and national authorities are investigating dominance in the cloud and office segment. This could have an impact on pricing models and compliance requirements.
Specifically examine alternatives such as Google Workspace, Atlassian, or open-source stacks to reduce dependencies.
Microsoft is indispensable for most companies. The platform strategy offers clear opportunities for productivity, innovation, and security. At the same time, dependency is increasing - and with it the need to actively shape governance, cost control, and exit strategies.
The capital market also views this share price positively: analysts at US bank Truist raised their target price to $675 in August 2025, citing AI as a growth driver and the strength of the platform model. This shows: investors have confidence in the long-term platform strategy - a sign of stability and growth.
👉 For CIOs and CFOs, this means accepting Microsoft as the foundation, consistently exploiting opportunities—but never relinquishing control.